Bi-Polar Spring

We have had the most unusual Spring weather. SNOW.
Last week it was in the 60's, this week it is freezing cold with snow! Weird, weird, weird.

Its Spring Break week. Nothing planned at all. Well except that the girl cousin comes over every day except today, karate,soccer practice and base ball camp. Thats all. Sounds like we might have a soccer game Saturday too. So I guess it could be a busy week. And then theres work, I have 3 overtime shifts this week too. Maybe not such good planning looking back ... oops.



For the third, or is it fourth day in a row its snowing again! Weird I say, weird. I knew we weren't in the clear yet, I hadn't seen the blue jays return, but I had no idea we would actually get snow. I keep wondering what the Farmers Almanac says about this spring and summer...

A little wordy?

I have been trying to get onto Blogger for two days now and can’t seem to get signed in so I guess I will start this as a word document and then copy and paste it when I can.

Easter was …. Nice? Yeah it was. Auntie Portland was here with her 8 month old and husband. We went out to dinner with them and My Honey’s other sister and hubby on Saturday night. It was kind of funny all us kids out together. We usually sit around my MIL’s house and do our visiting there, but this time we left the kids home and went out like adults. It was fun. I enjoyed myself a lot! Uncle Portland was in rare form and made me laugh until I cried a few times, which I really needed.

Easter day was good. We got up, went to Church and then had lunch at my MIL’s house. I nearly forgot about the kids’ baskets! I had made them up, hidden them and then, when we got home on Saturday night Bubba was still awake and I couldn’t set them out. Sunday morning rolled around and I didn’t get up before the kids so I didn’t get them set out then either. I opted for the “have to run inside to get something” routine on our way to Church. THEN I forgot I had set them out. We got home from Church, putzed around the house until I finally went upstairs and then I remembered about them (because I nearly tripped on them) so I called Bubba and Miss I upstairs to see what they had gotten. They were thrilled! Miss I loved her stuffed animal, Bubba loved his comic book (I saved the Moon Sand for a treat during Spring Break). So the baskets were a success.

Monday and Tuesday there wasn’t any school (same with the rest of this week and next week too.) Monday I entertained us by going to the Y in the morning, where the kids played in the babysitting area and then Bubba had Karate that afternoon and Miss I got to spend some time with my mom. (Thanks Mom for watching her every week!!) Late Monday afternoon Bubba asked me what my “plan” was for Tuesday “what does your day look like tomorrow?” I told him I hadn’t planned anything, I had a massage in the morning and that was it. But I was thinking that some kind of adventure would be fun. He agreed that an adventure would be fun. He suggested a walk in the forest “where there aren’t any bears… or snakes.”

After my massage, lunch and naps we headed to Leavenworth to see what we could see. I had a plan of where I wanted to go, but the roads leading to Blackbird Island were all closed. You would think since I work in the dispatch center that has this information available on a daily basis I would know this, but I didn’t apply it to my plan so we ended up driving around for 15 extra minutes trying to get to where I wanted to go. Finally we ended up going to the Icicle. It’s a beautiful place, we parked where I usually park to cross country ski and walked a little on the trail. There was still a little snow, we could hear the river rushing nearby and hear lots of birds. I don’t know how far we walked, maybe 10 minutes each way, but it was nice to get out, see some nature. The kids liked it too.

Karate is going well for Bubba. He’s been in it for a couple months now and I can see a ton of improvement in his “kata’s” and his coordination. He starts soccer tomorrow and we are debating whether or not to do both at the same time. If its too much we’ll just do karate one day a week instead of two during soccer season. I also signed him up for a baseball camp, with his cousin, next week. Its going to be a busy but fun month!

In preparation for soccer and baseball camp I invested in some second-hand equipment. A new mitt and ball for baseball, a soccer ball, shin guards and cleats for soccer. (Thanks DW for the cleats!) Bubba has spent at least 10 minutes, sometimes up to 45 minutes at a time outside with his new equipment practicing. Its great! Its good for him to play outside (alone) and to be so interested in sports and to want to practice on his own. I love it. Who’d a thunk $50 would go that far! Our first practice is tomorrow at 5:30. Our coach is the dad of one of his classmates so that’s nice too. At least he will know one kid on the team.

Speaking of classmates, I heard from his teacher that this kid is a nice kid and his dad will do a great job coaching. We met with her last night for spring conferences. Bubba is still doing well. “He is ready for 1st grade” she tells us. “Can he start tomorrow?” I asked her. She laughed. I am not kidding. He needs a full day of activities and a little more challenge for his brain. Oh well, just a few months left, then a whole summer to forget!

Last Saturday was “Camp sign up day” at the Y. Its the first day to sign up for summer programs. Kids who sign up on camp sign up day get free t-shirts! So I signed Bubba up for a week of Adventure Club, the “going into first through fifth grades” summer day camp program. Its actually a lot of fun for the kids. They meet at the Y daily, and ride the Y bus to local parks, including a weekly trip to Slidewaters (that’s the day I want to volunteer). They are totally exhausted at the end of the day! It starts in the morning so My Honey can take him to work with him and I can work out then pick him up each day. It should work out very nicely. Not to mention what a nice break for Grandma!

Mistake?

At the time it seemed like a good idea ... throw away all the extra easter candy after I stuffed eggs. Now, a couple days later it seems like a really BAD idea. What I would give for the left over jelly beans and robins eggs right now!! I keep nibbling the kids stuff, but it will soon be gone too. Poor me.

Quiet time

Miss I is napping, Bubba is at his cousins baseball game, My Honey is playing golf and I have some quiet time.

Its been a hard, hard week. The second hardest in my marriage. The first was when My Honey had his heart attack 3 years ago. Oddly I feel the same peace and calm about our situation now as I did then. I have been gifted with faith, I guess, that will see me through. It has many times before, it will this time too.

My SIL watched the kids today so I could go Easter Bunny shopping. It was actually pretty fun. Bubba has wanted this Moon Sand stuff for a long time so I got him that and a new comic book. Miss I gets a stuffed animal and bubbles. Don't forget the candy and gum too! On my way to the Wal*Mart I was driving by the cemetery and stopped to visit a 22-year-old grave site. "Believe in your dreams" is inscribed on her headstone. I am feeling really melancholy and I wonder what are my dreams right now? Have I stopped dreaming for myself? It seems all my dreams are about or for my kids ... what about me, what about My Honey, what about us? What are our dreams?

I saw a counselor last week who suggested its time to "start working on the second half of your marriage." He couldn't be more right. Although I hope we have more than 16 years left together, I get what he is saying. We are just now starting to get into the busyness, we have to make each other a priority. Take time for us. The kids will be better for it, we will be better for it too.

Have some (cup) cake and eat it too

The house is put back together. Everyone is back to school and work, and life is normal again ... or not. Seems the time change made the kids crazy. Neither of them will go to sleep at a reasonable hour - by reasonable I mean 7:30 like they were doing. Hopefully it will be better next week. I am not sure I like this time change either, I preferred the sun earlier in the morning.

I truly think its one of the things that kept me from being really, really crabby this winter. I have seen the sunrise every day for the past 3 months or so. It seems to have made a difference. Not that I like morning mind you, not at all, but being able to watch the sunrise has been a pleasure. Thank goodness for a 3rd floor office with east-facing windows. I have seen some spectacular stuff, and some so-so stuff too. I am sure getting more than 4 hours of sleep a night is helping matters too!

Spring break is just around the corner too, and, as it turns out Bubba doesn't have school the week before spring break either due to conferences. TWO WEEKS OFF SCHOOL. What are the administrator thinking? Not only that, the two school districts in my area have different spring break weeks, so there is the "what am I going to do with my kid?" question flying around in my head. Two weeks is just too long! So... I have a plan. The first week is the week before Easter. Auntie Portland will be in town so that will be a good distraction. The second week there is a baseball camp sponsored by a local collegiate baseball team which Bubba happens to love so I am going to sign him up. Its only a few hours a day, but its something. Grandma agreed to take and pick him up on her days with him so it should work out pretty good. Plus the activity of the baseball camp will be a good segue into soccer which starts after spring break. Lucky kid, I wish I had been able to do all the stuff he gets to do! But that is a rant for another post another time.

Plans for the rest of the week:
• Attempt to get a workout in tomorrow and Friday after work, preferably outdoor run.
• Saturday night we have been invited to go to a benefit wine tasting for an organization a friend of ours directs. It should be a fun event, and a great local band is playing. I don't have any idea what to wear to a thing like this tho, any ideas?
• Sunday I would like to work some more in the yard. I started edging the front yesterday and got encouraged to do some more. I also mowed the pine tree needles and leaves up the other day so its looking really nice right now. Another use for my iPod, crank up the tunes when I mow.
• Maybe an outdoor run on Sunday.
Oh yeah and that little thing called work.

Clean up

"Clean up, clean up, everybody do their part..."
Everyone has gone home, its time to put the house back together. But first, lets start with me! I was able to go to my massage appointment today, but haven't gotten a shower in yet. Time to get that done and then tackle the house. Blankets, toys, laundry and re-arranging the bathrooms so I am ready for work tomorrow. If I am lucky I won't have to do the deep cleaning because my Girl Friday will be here this week. Lucky me.

My nephews birthday party was fun last night, pizza, which was easy, wine and dessert, the kids had cupcakes and we more mature adults had cheesecake. MMMMM. We were even graced with the presence of my little brother. I think he would really like to do more family things but we just don't think to call him. Hes 25 and seems to have finally reached a place in life where he is fun to be around and likable. He went through a decade of being a shit, and now it seems he has chilled out. I picked him up and he went to Bubba's karate class with us and then on to Moms house. It worked out pretty good and he was available on short notice so I think I will make more of an effort to invite him over once-in-awhile. Everyone needs family-time.

Alright, off to do housework.

Party

They're here. I got all the cleaning I wanted to done (well, almost, I didn't clean the upstairs bathroom, I figured why? Company wasn't going to use it!) then I mowed the lawns and I think that was it, well except for laundry. Laundry. Why does it always seem after I am all done with it theres another basket-full? And it just keeps piling up. Every time I clean a room and then come back later there's socks or pants or shorts or a towel or some-damn-thing on the floor. How does this happen? Never-ending I tell you.

We had a good time yesterday and last night. Unfortunately Miss I kept getting left out. It is amazing how much difference 9 months makes in the kids ages. Bubba and his girl-cousin are 9 months apart (she is older) and Miss I and the boy-cousin are also 9 months apart (he is older), so his speech is 100% better than hers and the big-kids will play with him a little more readily. So poor Miss I was getting left out of everything because she is the youngest. I told her to go commiserate with my youngest sister, she knew how it felt! We all had dinner here and then my youngest sister and the girl-cousin left. We will see them all again tonight at Moms - Little Brother too. It should be a fun night, pizza, wine, birthday celebrations! Yay!

Whew!

Just a few hours and my sister and nephew will be here for a few days. Unfortunately that means I need to hustle my bustle to get the house cleaned up. If I had been thinking ahead I would have arranged for my Girl Friday to come in this week, but I thought I would have the time. Which I did, I just didn't use it for cleaning! What did I use it for? I really don't remember.

I did get another outdoor run in this week on Thursday. I also did aerobics on Saturday morning. So all in all last week I got 5 workouts in! Way to go. I probably won't have that much luck this week, its my long work week plus Karate plus company, but we shall see. I am sure I can talk my sister into going to the Y with me ... or she can go visit Mom while I am working out. Either way I am definitely taking today off. I am pretty sore from the class I took yesterday. Plus I have all that cleaning to do...

We were invited out to dinner last night. We went to a resort-y kind of place with a nice restaurant. It was called Tendrils. It was ... alright. I don't think we will go out there for dinner again, it was a long drive (an hour) and then it was, you know, a "dining experience" so everything was little servings of fancy things. The food was pretty good, the service marginal and the price pretty high because it was a Resort. The restaurant was tiny, I think I counted 15 tables. The resort only has 30 rooms but we couldn't see them because it was dark. There is also a winery and a spa out there, but again we couldn't see anything because it was dark. I imagine its very pretty in the daylight, and I might drive there for a spa day, but probably not for dinner again.

Accomplishments

• It was a 2 mile run, I drove it today. Way to go!
• I worked out yesterday and today too!
• I got most of the laundry done - washed, folded AND put away.
(My Honey gets kudos for laundry this week too, he did a ton over the weekend while I worked my A off.)
• I got grocery shopping for the rest of the week done. It's been a couple weeks since I planned meals ahead, and it's causing me too much stress. Time to get back on the ball!
• I managed extra kids twice this week and got everyone where they were supposed to go. We were a tad bit late to Bubba's karate class, but it worked out just fine.
• All I could think this morning as I drove the kids to school was how much like a "soccer mom" I felt. My two kids plus an extra on board...
• My sister and nephew are coming to stay with us Sunday through Tuesday. Fun stuff! It's family birthday celebration time. My mom, two sisters and nephew all have birthdays in the first 15 days of March. We are planning a family dinner on Monday night at moms’ house for everyone.

I saw a long-time-ago friend yesterday and today at the Y, “N’heisel”. He was working out at the same time as I was. Today as I was picking up Miss I he was leaving so we stopped to chat for a few minutes. The last I heard he was the Headmaster at a private school in town and I think his kids are all grown and out of the house now.

We looked into his school last year for Bubba. Seeing and talking to him for a few minutes today got me thinking about Bubba’s schooling again. I hear more often than not how he misses his old school. He is pretty impartial to his school right now and I worry about it. It could just be that Kindergarten isn’t challenging enough. All he brings home is copy-work of letters that he already knows, pictures he has colored (which he despises doing) and books that they “read” that are mostly pictures. So I got to wondering about the private school again. Would it be a good choice for Bubba? Will public school work out just fine? Anyway, just a few thoughts.

Welcome back Me

I was too tired to write last week, if you can believe that. I took the kids to my dads house the weekend before last and it took me a full week to recuperate emotionally which was exhausting physically. You know how that goes? It was a good trip, the kids did really well, it was just an emotional time. Without getting into to much I just wonder where I belong in their lives right now and how to help. So I am kind of carrying a heavy burden.

Speaking of burdens:
"911 what is the address of your emergency?"
Silence
"Hello? 911"
"Yeah, I am in Your Town"
"Okay, where are you?"
"At the big park downtown"
(deep breath) "Are you at Walla Walla, Riverfront or Confluence park?"
"Um, the one with the tennis and basket ball court"
"Okay, what’s going on there?"
"There’s a blue vehicle in the parking lot and I am on the other side of the bridge that goes out to the peninsula."
"Okay, what’s…" click … Dial tone.
I figured out which park, one of my partners sent law enforcement, but not soon enough. Our officers found him and a 12 gauge right where he said he would be.

I was the last one to talk to him alive. He must have had his mind made up, he didn't even give me a chance to say anything. He used a phone that couldn't receive calls so I wasn't even able call back to figure out what was going on.

That was Sunday, after work I went to work out. I ended up running outside since it was so dang nice (high 50's). I started at the boat launch and ended up at the place he called from. For some reason I had to see it. There wasn't anything to see though, the water had risen as they removed him and any trace of anything except some tire tracks on the grass was gone. I ran the whole way. Good music, nice weather, and a lot on my mind.

It was probably at least a 2 mile run. And I am hurting from it today! My shins - wooo. But I went into the Y and tried to get in another run today. Barely made it a mile. Then I was going to do some weights, but I just couldn't. It was busy and I just didn't have it in me. Maybe tomorrow morning.

For You

"Is this one full bloom?" he asked as he selected a crocus.
"Yes it is." I answered
"Okay, Grandma will like this one then."
And he proceeded to pick 3 more for her bouquet. What a sweet kid.

Conspiracy

Bubba and Miss I may be against us!
We are sort of, lazily potty training Miss I. She is ready, but we are lazy and work all the time and just have not taken the time to do it. I have a potty chair sitting out in the bathroom, she sits on it often, but rarely does her business there. She is interested in doing her business, but just doesn't do it yet so I offered her one candy for pee and two for poo. Simple, right?

She and Bubba were getting ready for bed a couple nights ago, so she sat down to do her business and they excitedly came out of the bathroom telling us she had pee'd. Yay!! Candy!! But me, I must see it to believe it so I went up to examine the proof. Guess what I found? My son telling me that "She pee'd, she really did" with a little too much animation. So I take a closer look and find water in the potty chair. Those two boogers tried to fool me. ME! Of all people they tried to fool their mother. Silly, silly kids.
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We are going to go to Issaquah on Friday. Grandma and Grandpa are dying to see the kids. It should be a nice break for me. My Honey is going to stay home, well sort of, he and one of his friends are going to find somewhere to golf. Its been nice enough they shouldn't have to go far.
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As a kid I never played sports. The biggest reason was lack of parental involvement. It was just too much trouble. In fact, I remember very few concerts, plays or other events that I or my siblings tried to be involved in that my folks were at. So now its my turn to be a good parent, to change the cycle. To go to my kids stuff, to be there to encourage them. To be the mother I always wanted. I sure do put a lot of pressure on myself don't I?

Fun, Fun, Fun!

No work, no school today. Fun, fun, fun. I didn't have anything planned and then Best Buddy's mom called to see if he and his sister could come over until after lunch. Fun, fun, fun! So I have a house-full of kids. Including an older girl for Miss I to hang with. The boys are playing with Legos and the girls are watching The Jungle Book and petting the dog. Lucky dog, she will get a lot of attention today.

Best Buddy's older sister is trying to hide all over my house, it's cute. She is 4th grade, I think, and totally into spying and hiding and all that.

Its been really nice weather, I hope to get the kids out later this afternoon so we can go to the park or something. I could use some fresh air and I hate to let another good day go to waste.

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I got around to getting a photo of my roses from Valentines Day uploaded. They are still pretty!

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My work week ended pretty well, much better than it started out, thats for sure. The only thing I didn't get done were any workouts. Miss I was sick so I couldn't very well take her to the babysitting area at the Y now could I? My Honey had been home with the kids for TWO WHOLE DAYS and I felt bad not coming right home from work on Sunday, add to that I was beat from going in at 3am and it just didn't work out well this week. I am hoping to get in this afternoon around 4-ish to get at least a run in and maybe some weights.

Work this week looks tough; I have a 4 hour OT shift tomorrow morning (3-7 am) and then I go in at 3am on Wednesday, too. My MIL is out of town this week so My Honey actually took Wed-Fri off to stay home with the kids. The day she called to tell me she would be out of town I stressed. My first call was to My Honey to let him know, just as a heads up and his first comment was "so you want me to take the week off?" (and the angels sang) It was the most wonderful offer ever! So he is off most of this week. Unfortunately I have 3 OT shifts, the two I just mentioned and I am going to a training class on Thursday that will go until 5pm. It's going to be a long week, but at least I know the kids are taken care of. He just realized last night that he has to take Bubba to school and pick him up and all that. It was cute.

If Wednesday goes as planned, I am supposed to get to spend part of the day out of the office which will help a lot. One of our Sergeants called and offered to take a couple dispatchers out to the Range while they are "blowing things up." I don't know exactly what it will entail, but I am looking forward to getting out of the office for a few hours. However, my last training was cancelled so ... I am not counting on or looking forward to it. Plus, its my "short week" I only work Wed, Thurs and Fri then I am off for a 4-day weekend! I don't have anything planned, but if the weather holds, I may venture over to my dads for a short visit. Leave on Friday after work and keep Harry out of school on Monday ... Just maybe. It would be nice to get away and I think I could finagle a night (or two) away if I asked real nice.

So much rosier

Well, today went much better...

Miss I has an ear infection and possibly pneumonia. Thank goodness I was able to get her into the doctor's office yesterday. Who knows how bad she would have been last night or today. So she is on a heavy duty does of antibiotics which I hope work. If her cough is worse after the weekend then we will have to go in for chest x-rays which are no fun for a 2 year old. They have to put them in an upright tube-sort-of-thing to hold them still to do chest x-rays. I don't remember why now, but we had some done when she was little, like 6 or 9 months old. I think it was for some kind of funny heart sound. It was torture for me.

Work was alright. The hate mail had actually been sent to the wrong person - go figure, but the admin is still the same. Today we received a singing telegram. So picture this: 6 of us on duty, an in-progress burglary call going on and in walk 4 men dressed in tuxedos to sing to us. Thanks but no thanks. Not when I have officers out with bad guys. It pissed me off. One of the other dispatchers tried to come over and make a joke about it, but I was so mad I swore at him and told him he better leave my space right away before I punch him. I was so mad. My trainee called it the most surreal experience he has ever had at any job. I am pretty sure he's hooked on dispatch.

After work, I went next door to My Honey's work to pick up the kid-car keys (I forgot mine this mornning) and heard him say he had flowers for me. I thought he was pulling my leg (and everyone listening) because I hadn't asked for them, nor had I seen them yesterday or this morning when I left for work and I couldn't imagine when he picked them up. Well, lo and behold, sometime he went and got flowers, roses actually, and had them waiting for me when I got home. What a guy. (I would post a picture now, but I had a techincal problem... the kids got in the way. Later)

Friday the 13th??

What a day. (Note: its only 1230)

Work sucked.

A training I was scheduled to go to yesterday was cancelled so I had to go to work today (which I had not planned on doing).

I had "hate mail" (you know, the kind accusing you of something without proof) waiting for me when I got there. These things bother me because if I do something wrong, please show me what it was, don't just quote the policy and procedure manual (THAT I CO-AUTHORED) to me in an effing e-mail. I know what the hell it says and I believe I follow it, show me where I went wrong.

And there was a reminder of how unprofessional and unprepared our Admin are; the two people with the techie powers-that-be are BOTH out of the state for a week and left no directions of who to call or what to do if there are techie problems. In my humble opinion there should be something posted somewhere so that we all know what to do in their absence since there are many, many hours during the day when there isn't a supervisor on duty, not to mention, the supervisor on duty didn't have a clue when I asked her this morning. So if there is a problem when I am on and there is no supervisor I guess the Director gets the phone call.

Ugh, the place is just pissing me off lately. Time for a long weekend away.

And then, (yep, theres more) Miss I is sick. She had trouble sleeping last night, woke every couple hours (which could be the real source of my sour mood today) screaming like she is in pain somewhere. This morning she spiked a 102 degree fever. So I came home from work and made an appointment with the doctor for this afternoon for her. That’s probably the only good thing, I got to leave work, where I really didn't want to be anyway. Oh yeah, and I might have gotten myself mixed up in a relationship thing at work that is really none of my business. Stupid, stupid me. I know better than to go looking for gossip. The best stuff always comes to me.

So that’s my day so far. It’s not even 1:00 yet. Maybe I will go hide under the covers until Miss I wakes from her nap.

Drink of water

I thought this post ("Criminal Act") was really funny because I recently tested this theory. I had been called a "tall drink of water" by a co-worker so I thought I would show him how tall I could actually be and wore 3-inch heels to work with ... well, snug fitting jeans. I don't usually make a spectacle of myself, but I couldn't resist. Needless to say, I received my fair share of comments. Funny what a couple inches and good jeans can do for a girl when they make her 5'11.

Right this very minutes my house smells like spice cake. MMMMM!! I got the urge to make cupcakes. I don't know where it came from, one moment I was shopping at Target, the next minute I was obsessed with spice cake and butter cream frosting. It was the craziest thing. They are in the oven now (or were) and they smell delicious. It's been ages since I made cupcakes. What kind of mother am I? Anyway, we are going to frost them later and take them to my mothers' house for dessert. Not sure I can resist that long before I eat one though.

I got in for a workout this morning. Good for me! I did legs and then the elliptical machine for 30 minutes.

Home Show

There was a home show in town this weekend. I spent an hour or so there on Saturday, I wanted to ask a couple vendors about some things. I actually had to circle the place 2 times before I worked up the nerve to approach one of the vendors I wanted to talk to. I am such a weenie about putting myself out there. The guy was nice, gave me the information on interior doors and I moved on. The next place I went ended up being just as helpful, but it took a lot out of the guy at the table to talk to me. I was standing there looking at their brochures and heard someone say "how’s it going to day?" I looked up thinking they were talking to me, but I was wrong ... THREE TIMES. Everyone was greeted as they walked up to the table but me. I was feeling a little like I must have been dressed wrong. Then when the guy finally did talk to me he implied that I wouldn’t be able to afford wooden windows I should go with vinyl, because they are about 1/2 the price. Mister, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

I told My Honey about it and he said something like "Sometimes people have this thing where they seem like they don’t want to be bothered, like they are unapproachable." WHO ME????? Unfortunately he is so right. It reminded me of one of the deputies I went on a ride along with recently, he asked me if he "passed the test." Am I that bad?? I guess so if two people in the past few months have made mention of it.

So what is a girl to do? Do I need to do anything at all? Yes, that’s why my mental attitude adjustment for this year is directly related to this kind of stuff. See how I am? I know what I need. And I would say that I did well at the home show approaching the vendors I wanted information from. I actually did it!

My cute little Bubba. I started to make him rest for an hour or so while Miss I naps so I can have a little peace and quiet each day. So he is up resting right now - or at least trying. He is so excited about Karate class he can't sit still or keep quiet during his quiet time. He is up there right now in his uniform asking how much longer until Karate. I had to promise him I would not get him there late and I would not forget. What a cutie!

What, no winter pix?

I really wanted to get some great winter photos this year, trees, mountains, snow that kind of stuff but it just hasn't worked out. So I thought tomorrow I would go out and do it, but I forgot I have a massage scheduled at 9:30. No way I am gonna cancel that! I won't be able to do it tomorrow morning, but maybe Tuesday?

I worked out today! Yay me. Two weeks off didn't kill me like I thought it might. I was able to do aerobics on Saturday and not feel too bad and then I ran today without too much trouble. Eighteen minutes as a matter of fact. I had some good tunes going!! Gonna have to remember that mix.

I taught Miss I something naughty! I ask her "Who's cute?" and she answers "ME!" Then I say "Who else is cute?" and she will answer "Mommy" or "Daddy" or "EErie". It's pretty funny.

I got the go-ahead to spend some money today and couldn't find a thing. Everything showed too many extra lumps and soft spots. Thats how I ended up working out today. So much for retail therapy. Maybe I will take the alotted amount and do the bathroom stuff I have wanted to do...

Its official

It's official, I am a soccer mom. No, we didn't buy a mini-van, (and we don't have plans to any time soon) Bubba is officially signed up for his first sport - soccer, which makes me an official soccer mom. He is also signed up for Karate right now. They kind of both happened the same week and thankfully we can drop Karate when soccer starts in April (or try to do both if they fall on different nights). So our lives just got a little busier on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Sometimes my life fascinates me. Here I am thirty-seven and I still have a kid in diapers, and drinking bottles. I think I thought by now I would have kids in school and be coasting along in life. But here I am just beginning the rigors of carting kids around (before I know it Miss I will be taking dance or some dang thing like that) and still dealing in diapers.

I look at the lives of other women (yes, I am comparing) and think how much smarter it would have been to get kids going earlier. But life wouldn't be what it is now would it? And I know it worked out this way for a reason, I just don't know the reason yet. But sometimes I am a bit jealous of the younger girls. The ones that are 30-33 and their kids are in school and settled in sports or what ever. The ones that don't have diapers and bottles sitting around. The ones that don't have to fix the kids something different for dinner because they won't eat what the adults are. (Yes, I know this is a problem I created and make worse by not forcing the kids to eat what we eat.)

Work was kind of the pits this week. One of the supervisors made a comment that put me on guard and judging every thing she did that was aimed at me. The guild thing is still pissing me off and my trainee was getting on my nerves. He wasn't doing things MY way so I was annoyed. I know, I know.... I warned him that next week I am going to hover and hound. He actually said it might help, so that’s our plan. He’s at the point if I don't, its going to be an up hill battle for him to re-learn good habits. Am I prepared for the exhaustion? I don't know, better stock up on Fat Tire just in case. I did make it through and I didn't have as bad of a week as some.

And finally, I got in for a work-out today. Only the second one in two weeks. I so fell off the wagon. Need, need, need to get back on. I started to feel bad because my MIL didn't seem to be too pleased with me going after work, I think this happened the week she had the flu bug. But I gotta do something, I felt so much better. I was dealing with winter so well. So I plan on going Tuesday to a 4:30 class, the kids can go to the play areas at the Y, Thursday and Friday right after work while the kids are still at grandmas. Its the best I can do. Saturday I may sneak over after work too and I will take Sunday off. The trick is dinner, going to work out at 3 puts me home after 4:30 sometime. Just barely enough time to make dinner, but I can do it. I have before and it was so worth it.

(is anyone else having problems with spell check?)

Can't sleep

I can't sleep (again). Miss I woke up at 11-ish and I have not been back to sleep yet.

I am still spun up about a conversation I overheard at work. The damned Guild is fighting Administration about seniority. They don't want to give it to me. Selfish mo-fo's (I am sure that I seem like the selfish mo-fo to them, but its them, really). So they are holding up everyone’s raises to iron this issue out. Short story: the Guild won't agree to office seniority (giving me and any other supervisor that steps down or gets demoted the months or years worth of service toward our seniority) so the Admin won't agree to the raise amount.

It just pisses me off. What the hell is the point? I wonder if I mention to a few key people that their raises are being held up because of the seniority issue if they would go to their representatives and say "F-you, give in, its not that big of a deal" since it was at the urging of their representatives that this whole thing started anyway. Jerks. Selfish effing asses. Maybe I will demand a re-bid when the whole thing is over just to get the days off I want. Then we will see who is selfish. (Childish I know, but its making me feel better? Not really.) So because the Admin and the Guild can't work these two issues out the dang guild contract-thing is going to mediation. Which means it will be a few more months.

Anyway, I am trying to get it out of my system, but its not working very well. I am trying to see both sides, but it is not working very well. I tried not to let it show at work, and I thought I did a pretty good job until one of my Detective-friends called in. I was doing actual work for him and at the end of our conversation he asked what was wrong. He's one of the more intuitive guys I know (obviously) because he could tell by the tone of my voice that I was all cranky. I had honestly forgotten about the conversation until he brought it up, but it had certainly taken its toll throughout the day.

Then, My Honey got home and I mentioned it to him. Now who's spun up? Oh my goodness. He was all over the place. Told me if it didn't work out my way he had a dollar amount in mind to spend on legal fees to get it worked out. (He thinks he is so tough.)